Category: Allergy

When you are a parent the conversation that you have with other adults tends to change drastically. That conversation changes even more when your friends start having babies too. The questions you googled in the wee hours of the night start to be the things your friends ask you about. Instead of talking about having an evening out with your husband, you are talking about how to stop the annoying virus that is causing a consistent runny nose or stomach ache.

Fall and winter are just gross when it comes to kids. They are cooped up in the house or at school, and the germs just fester and circulate from kid to kid. This leaves parents to trying just about anything to keep our kids healthy.

Always call your child’s pediatrician when they are sick. Even if it’s just to chat with a nurse and get on file that they have the runs. The more your doctor knows the better they can care for your child. I just want to share what I have learned to help prevent sickness and some ways to help you and your kiddos when you are sick. A lot of this might be common sense, but are good reminders when you have sick babies and haven’t slept in a week!

Wash wash wash wash wash your hands and their hands!

Wash surfaces. I try to stay away from heavy chemicals. I generally stick to The Honest Company multipurpose cleaner for every day cleaning and Method All Natural disinfectant for disinfecting everything else. Every day AT LEAST once I wipe down all the door knobs, light switches that have been touched, and anything that might have been touched by potty/snotty hands. I usually do this after bed time to give it time to disinfect before someone else touches.

Healthy diet and drinking lots of water. BK#1 is super picky, so I am aware of how hard it is to get kids to eat a balanced meal, but keeping their bodies full of vitamins will really keep their immune systems up and running.

Stay active! The more oxygen your body has the better it can fight bacteria.

SLEEP. Adults and kids alike. If you don’t get enough sleep, and you are run down then you are more likely to get sick. Everyone is busy, busy this time of year with the holidays, but that doesn’t mean we can run on less sleep. Make sure your kiddos are still staying schedule with their naps and bedtime (and you too!).

Get the flu vaccine-The CDC says it’s the single best way to prevent the flu and it is covered in full by most insurances. It’s available at doctor’s offices and most pharmacies too.

Teach your child germ “etiquette“. Sneezing and coughing into your arm, washing your hands after blowing your nose, walking away from people if you are coughing or sneezing, etc. YES, even if they are a toddler they can learn things like this!

Teach not to share at school, and about areas where there are more germ! For ex: Drink from a water bottle and not the water fountain, don’t eat food that dropped on the food tray or floor, and send them with hand sanitizer if allowed.

We can do all of these things, and our kids will still get sick; it’s just a part of life! The following list of sicknesses are just common illnesses, and again: I am not a medical professional this is based on my own experiences and research.

They can be caused by just about anything and everything in younger children. My kids get heat rash SUPER easy, they also have pretty sensitive skin. A rash doesn’t always mean sick. Keep that in mind.

Rashes are NOT easy to diagnose, don’t try and WedMD your way through a bad rash. If it’s a mild rash that doesn’t go away after a day or so then call your pediatrican. If it came out of nowhere, is BAD and doesn’t go away. CALL THEIR PEDITRICIAN.

Call your pediatrician first if the rash is accompanied by a fever, pussing, scabbing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, or vomiting as any or all of these symptoms can mean a serious illness or allergic reaction.

A rash from simple skin irritation can usually be soothed and goes away. – Try an oatmeal bath, lavender essential oils, unscented lotion for dry skin (sometimes looks like rash), and thinking about possible things that could have caused the rash. ie: new detergent, new un-washed clothes, husband’s beard rubbed their face, you wore a new perfume/lotion/bodywash, they were sweating, outside rolling around in the grass.

Diaper rash– Keep your baby dry and clean. Remember less is more when it comes to creams. Also, think about what your child ate and if they are teething or not. Certain foods make my LO’s bum instantly turn red. When BK#2 is teething the instant he pees he gets a rash if not changed promptly. As with all things…if your efforts aren’t making it go away call your doctor. A yeast infection can easily be mistaken for diaper rash and it generally needs an antifungal prescribed from your pediatrician.

Read more here for detailed description of common rashes. Don’t do a google image search. It’s GROSS. I’m warning you now.

Fluid builds up behind the ear drum and causes an infection.

Symptoms can range for ear infections. Most kids tug at their ears, run a fever, have trouble sleeping, and are really fussy. If they are older hopefully they tell you that their ears actually hurt. Some kids don’t have any real symptoms other than a fever, so it is always important for them to be seen when a persistent fever arises.

Pediatricians easily can diagnose an ear infection and prescribe an antibiotic.

Sometimes ear infections can be persistent and/or your child can be susceptible to them. So keep in mind that if it keeps occurring your doctor might start talking about other measures, like tubes, to relieve the problem. I am not trying to scare new parents, but just making you aware.

Want to read more? Here is a great article with the answer to just about any ear infection question you can have.

Rest! As adults we get run down and sick when we don’t rest or are over stressed. We generally feel better after some good sleep, right? If my child is sick the first thing I always do is push naps and early bedtimes!

Remember, that a fever is the body’s way of fighting off an infection. When your child has a low grade fever (99F-100F), that does not always need to be controlled with medication, but keep an eye on it.

Push fluids! Even if they don’t have an appetite be sure to keep offering water, pedialyte juice, broth etc. If the child is old enough try warm liquids.

To break up a stuffy nose or chest congestion use a cool mist humidifier, saline spray and a bulb syringe with little ones to keep their nasal passages clear.

Serve easy to eat foods. You don’t want to make their throat hurt even more.

This is a Virus that can infection of the lungs and breathing passages.

Very contagious. If you have more than one child chances are the others will get it. Try and separate them if you can.

It generally has normal cold symptoms but the cough is a wheeze and bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen.

Even though it sounds really scary it is actually really common. Our little guy had it when he was 6 months old and I guarantee that I was way more stressed out than I needed to be. The doctor prescribed a breathing treatment and within a week he was better.

Beyond the breathing treatments push fluids so they don’t become dehydrated and frequently use a bulb syringe to keep their nose clear.

Keep in mind that children that contract RSV are at higher risk for other respiratory infections. With all things just stay vigilant and follow doctor’s orders.

Usually affects children younger than 5, but can affect older children and adults.

It usually starts with a fever, low appetite, and sore throat. One or two days after the fever starts, painful sores can develop in the mouth. They are small red spots with a blister. A skin rash may also develop over one or two days on the palms of their hands and soles of their feet.

These sores are pretty painful. It is important to make sure you keep your child hydrated, because of the sores in their mouth they might not want to swallow.

Your doctor will prescribe medication. For older children use mouth washes to numb pain. For little ones do your best to keep them comfortable. Try orajel if allowed for their age.

Symptoms of strep throat, which is very common among kids and teens, include fever, stomach pain, red- swollen tonsils, and (depending on how it has progressed) sometimes white patches on tongue and throat.

Requires treatment with antibiotics.

I know I have said is already, but hand washing is so important. If strep throat isn’t treated it is most likely to spread the infection when the symptoms are most severe, but can still infect others for up to 3 weeks. Granted, it just looks like a normal cold at first, but you can help prevent the spread with proper germ etiquette.

Sometimes strep throat starts with a rash and then the severe cold symptoms start.

“As more and more bugs become resistant to drugs, occasionally strep throat in children does not respond to the usual milder antibiotics. If your child has not improved within two to three days, contact your pediatrician.” Strep throat can get a little scary, so stay vigilant and communicate with your doctor. I guarantee they would rather see them and just say it’s a cold than have to put them on a heavy dose of antibiotics and steroids. Read more about Strep here.

Inflammation of the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids.

It is definitely shocking when your child wakes up with a bright red and pussy eye, but it generally won’t cause them to lose any vision.

Pink eye spreads incredibly fast. It is important to call your pediatrician as soon as you can, do not touch the eye, don’t let them touch their eye, and if they do immediately wash hands without touching anything else.

Sometimes it passes on its own, but you want your child to be seen so your doctor can tell you if it is allergies, viral, or bacterial.

Your pediatrician will most likely prescribe an antibiotic. You can relieve discomfort with a warm wash cloth.

Again with the google…don’t….just know its red, puffy and pussy sometimes.

Croup causes swelling and irritation of the upper airways

It’s caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold.

Kids with croup have a “barky” cough especially when crying.

Most common from 6 months – 3 years old

In most cases it will pass in time, but in some instances your doctor might want your child to be seen or to give prescribed medication. As I have said above, just call and let them know what is going on so your child can be seen to rule anything else out.

Breathing in moist air should help kids feel better (humidifier). Make sure they are drinking enough and getting plenty of rest.

This is the most frustrating, because its extremely hard to differentiate between a mild cold and allergies. “Long-lasting sneezing, with a stuffy or runny nose, may signal the presence of allergic rhinitis—the collection of symptoms that affect the nose when you have an allergic reaction to something you breathe in and that lands on the lining inside the nose.”

If you think your child has a long lasting cold, you might want to bring up allergies to their pediatrician, especially if the parents have allergies.

Your pediatrician can prescribe medication, try to avoid triggers like playing in fresh cut lawn, stay hydrated, and there are also multiple natural ways to help with the symptoms. In our family we use essential oils.

I know there are plenty other illnesses that could be wrong, but these tend to be the most common culprit for sick kiddos.

Remember: If your child has to be treated with antibiotics then they were contagious, and are contagious for 24 hours after they have started antibiotics. Same with a fever. A child should be fever free for 24 hours before they return to day care/school, and normal activity with friends and siblings. I understand it’s really hard to take off work and move schedules around but the 24 hour rule really will benefit everyone.

Try not to Google or WebMD your child’s symptoms. I know it is extremely hard not to, because we just want to fix them and make them better, but stressing yourself out and making yourself an anxious wreck is not good for them. They need a parent with a clear and calm head to take care of them.

If you follow my posts, then you know that I am a pretty crunchy mom. When it comes to my life, and my children’s especially, I try to use the best products available. There are so many chemicals surrounding us on a daily basis, so I try to limit chemicals and artificial ingredients that we put into our bodies specifically.

I found essential oils when BK#1 was little. You can read about Tummy Gize and how I use it here. I also use oils for teething, you can read about that here. Last year, I found a blend that works wonders for our family’s allergies. I have some pretty rough seasonal allergies, my husband has seasonal allergies and some specific allergies, and our littles definitely inherited them unfortunately. Thankfully, right now, it just seems like the babies have seasonal allergies. Their pediatrician prescribed some over the counter allergy medication. They didn’t really help, so she then prescribed prescription strength medicine. After some time, I didn’t see much of a change in symptoms even though my one year old was taking medication every single day. I consulted with our pediatrician and we decided to start exploring some natural remedies for their allergies before extensive allergy testing and medications.

I started diffusing a blend of peppermint, lavender, and lemon and saw immediate results. Not only were the results immediate, but they were continuous. They are still working. Any time the kids are having any allergy symptoms, I diffuse the blend and their sniffles subside within minutes. As an adult, I not only notice my runny nose and sniffles disappear, but my sinuses are clear! If you have allergies, you know how amazing this feels.

***Before I go into how it works, I need to preface with the fact that I am not a Young Living rep, nor am I being paid to endorse Young Living***

I have done the research and tested multiple other brands. Young Living is the best quality and works the best. You can find many different brands at many different price points for your budget. But like most things, you get what you pay for. It is just that simple.

HOW TO USE

Apply:

Always dilute with a carrier oil (like coconut) for little ones.

Apply to base of neck.

Apply to bottom of feet and put on socks.

I apply Lavender alone on my cheekbones and bridge of my nose for sinus pressure relief.

You can also make a roller ball using equal parts of each oil for travel and to have the oil already mixed on hand.

Diffuse:

I diffuse for the kids 95% of the time.

I use this diffuser instead of an expensive one from Young Living and it works great and has never broken. (I have a Young Living diffuser that has died)

Fill diffuser to fill line with water then add 5 drops Lavender, 4 drops Lemon, and 3 drops Peppermint. I put the diffuser in whatever room we are in and it runs for around 6 hours before I need to refill.

Depending on the severity of their symptoms, I diffuse 24/7 or just in the morning when they wake with sniffles.

Ingest:

Add 1 drop of each oil to 1 teaspoon of local honey for children. For adults, use 2-3 drops of each oil.

It is an oil, so it will be a little rough on the pallet. Just use a chaser like a glass of water.

Peppermint and Children

Always be safe with your oils. Especially with peppermint. Peppermint is one of the most effective essential oils for respiratory infections and congestion, but it can be dangerous for young children. It can slow breathing, so be sure to always use a safe diluted amount. There are many different opinions and ages that are suggested. Some say don’t use under age 3, some say it’s safe as long as it’s diluted. Our pediatrician said that she felt it was safe if heavily diluted or diffused. I don’t apply blends with peppermint to my little ones, but there is plenty of research saying that if applied safely, it is okay to use. I just worry so much as it is, so I completely avoid applying it since diffusing the blend works so perfectly already. Please read more about oil safety here.

Fall is my favorite season, but our bodies don’t like the weather changes as much as I do. I am so glad to have found a natural solution! I hope this blend helps you as much as it helps my family.

I have always used coconut oil when my babies have gotten a diaper rash. I don’t always start with it, but if I can’t kick a rash with other creams, then I always slather it on before calling the doctor. Both my littles have always had really sensitive skin and they get a rash anytime they have a dirty diaper for any length of time. BK#2 is much worse than BK#1 ever was. The poor guy always seems to have some sort of rash starting or going. I will have it cleared up for a day or so and he will start teething, or take an extra long nap and it’s back full force! Coconut oil just about always clears it up in a day or two, it is that awesome. The only negative about it is it’s an oil. You have change diapers more often because it soaks into the side of the diaper and causes leaks.

WHY I USE COCONUT OIL FOR DIAPER RASHES:

It has natural antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties to help the healing and prevention of a rash.

It also contains lauric acids and caprylic acids that are natural yeast fighting agents.

So it basically gets rid of any type of rash your child (or even yourself) has!

Seventh Generationjust came out with a diaper cream with coconut oil in it! When I saw it at Target, I was so excited! I have never found anything made for little bums with coconut oil in it. I have just been working around the diaper leaks because it is what works best for my little ones!

It is a thick cream that you have to spread around pretty well but when it warms up to your fingers, it spreads easily. There’s absolutely noscent either! So even though you have to spread it on, you won’t be smelling it all day!

The price point is pretty average at $9.99 for a 4 oz tube. The only downfall I have for this product is that you can only find it at Target. Now, I don’t have a problem with that because I have a target problem like most 20-something moms, but I know Target isn’t located everywhere! But it is available on their website. Seventh Generation also released a Coconut Care moisture lotion (7.6oz for $8.99) and a Coconut Care foaming shampoo and wash (9oz for 9.99), both available online as well as in store!

I am sure you have seen the commercials and ads on Facebook. $1 a month for razors! I am frugal most of the time, and when my husband told me we could save $30 a month (we were spending on razor blades for him), I was all for it! We started a subscription, and then I realized I could cut out buying my ridiculously priced razor blades, too! My husband and I had an interesting experience with the product, and we want to make sure our readers know what they could possibly be getting into.

Introducing my lovely husband. Drumroll Please.

Hello!

Dollar Shave Club offers three different blade subscriptions, and then subsequently 3 different bundles with creams and lotions you can choose from also.

Where I work, I have to be clean shaven so I go through a lot of razors shaving daily. The price was fantastic compared to the razors I was using, and I didn’t have to worry about running out since they came right to my door. It was a no brainer.

The first month you get a sample of their creams, your handle, and a little welcome packet. Every month following they send your 4 blades, and a “Bathroom Minutes”.

The packaging is definitely geared towards men, and always has little funny comments printed on packaging.

For the first few months I loved it! Amanda saw how well they worked and stole herself a few, so we started a double subscription.

After a few months I started breaking out REALLY BAD! My mild adult acne flared up so bad, and rash-like bumps anywhere that I shaved. I was sure to change my blade once a week, and was even changing more often. After about a month of trying to figure out what the cause was, I did a little research. I talked to friends who used DSC, and found that they had experienced the same rashes and ultimately stopped their subscription.

I went back to my Gillete and within in days I had clear skin again.

Great concept, and maybe better if you don’t have to shave daily, but the razors didn’t work for me. 3 out of 5 stars. A razor has to be able to used daily without causing issues!

~ Husband

Okay it’s Amanda again.

I was having zero issues when he was breaking out, and I have very sensitive skin. I can’t even use shaving cream/gel or I break out in hives. Allergic to all the things, I tell ya.

And then it happened. I broke out in hives. I thought someone gave me razor burn and then chicken pox at the same time. Burning, itchy bumps! WHAT? I normally wouldn’t take a picture of my legs, and then share it with you all, but I knew I would want to tell you about it. So this is what I looked like after shaving.

This lasted for hours. I had to use some of my prescription skin cream to get it to calm down, and I chalked it up to old razor blade/or razor burn. Two days later I shaved my legs and the exact same thing happened.

We didn’t share blades obviously (gross), we just popped our own blade on, and switched the handle back and forth. We didn’t need two handles. Its not like we shared a blade and then shared whatever rash he had! The only thing that I can think caused the rash on both of us, is maybe the company changed something about the blades or the little strip on the blade.

If you don’t have sensitive skin, or you really don’t have to shave that often it might be better for you! They really are great quality razor blades, and the subscription is great. There are no hidden fees, and delivery is always very prompt. This company is gaining a lot of attention, and becoming really popular. I just hope they find out what is causing the random rashes on their customers, because it wasn’t just my husband and I.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars if you want to know how I rank it. The name is Dollar Shave Club. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, but I was really confused when all of a sudden the blades were causing issues. Hopefully changes can be made.

Lately, I have been quickly reminded that as parents, we are not always going to be able to protect our little ones. For some reason, I thought that as my babies got older, things would get easier. Boy was I ever wrong!! It is only going to get more and more difficult to protect them. What was I thinking?! I should have known better!! I just hope I can get better at “letting go” and “dealing with” the fact that I can’t control everything. I can’t keep my kiddos in a little safe bubble forever and ever (even though I wish I could).

Just recently, my oldest (she’s almost 3) slipped and fell in the shower. This was not her first time in the shower with her dad or I, and it wasn’t even the first time she has slipped. Kids slip, kids fall, kids can even get hurt, but this time was different. She developed a goose egg above her eye immediately that I noticed as soon as I scooped her up off the floor. I had a pit in my stomach and the “I want to vomit” feeling instantly, but did my best to remain calm and get my husband. She never lost consciousness and eventually stopped crying, but her eye kept swelling, to the point where she could barely see out of it. We put ice on it and got some advice from a family member who is a physician (it was a Saturday night of course). She ended up going to bed that night, but I couldn’t help but worry about her and if it was going to be okay. My husband ended up taking her to the ER the next day (here’s a helpful site on when to take your kiddos to the hospital). Everything turned out to be fine, but it’s over 3 weeks later and the little thing still has a bruise and a bump. If I could just protect her from everything, this never would have happened! I couldn’t help but blame myself.

As parents, we’re going to beat ourselves up about every little thing that happens to our kids. We can’t help it; it’s how we’re programmed. It doesn’t mean that we are bad parents when our little ones get hurt or injured. It just means that we love them when we sit and think about not wanting anything to ever happen to them! We have to lighten up on ourselves though! I took total responsibility when my little girl got her first black eye/goose egg. I was worried sick about her. I felt like the worst parent in the world, but it happens. It wasn’t my fault. I’m not the worst mother on the planet. She’s probably going to have more goose eggs. It took me a long time to come to terms with this, and I am still working on it.

We experience this feeling of guilt for a multitude of reasons and on a daily basis. My “mom guilt”occurred instantly when my little girl slipped and fell. Sharing what happened with others and hearing them respond with stories of their kiddos having similar accidents, made me feel like I wasn’t alone. People reminded me that things like this are going to happen,no matter how much I try to prevent them. It’s how my kids are going to learn and grow, but we have to let them. They can’t aren’t going to stay babies forever.

So, for all you parents out there who might have experienced something similar with your little ones or are just worried that someday you will . . . IT IS OKAY!!! You’re still a fantasticparent and your kiddo is going to turn out fine! If you still worry all the time, that’s okay too, but cut yourself a break sometimes. You’re not alone. We are never going to stop worrying about our kids. We are always going to want what is best for them and to protect them. It just means we care!

Last month in BK#1’s Bluum box there was a small glass jar of organic “balm”.

I have tried a million and one creams and lotions for my babies, and I finally found a combo of coconut oil and A&D that works for them. Most of the time. If you have sensitive skin, and/or your children do, you know what I am talking about! It really is a nightmare finding something that works for everything that doesn’t break the bank and that also isn’t filled with chemicals and steroids.

I am constantly battling my eczema, and haven’t really found anything that works as well as the steroid cream that you get from the doc.

I also find myself constantly trying new things on my babies, because I feel like their skin is always dry and flakey, and/ or they always have some sort of rash. Their pediatrician said that they just have sensitive skin, and baby acne. Sorry kids.

Nothing besides coconut oil has really soothed AND eliminated irritation/dry skin/ rash/ acne/ etc. But,coconut oil makes me crazy sometimes, because of the mess it causes! It makes diapers fall apart, its oily for hours, makes their hair greasy, and I have to constantly re- apply for it to work.

” Our Shea butter organic baby balm is formulated to be the best product to naturally protect and soothe baby’s delicate skin. Our blend of certified organic ingredients combines raw Shea butter, olive & Jojoba oil and a mix of herbs and pure essential oils to create an everyday skin care balm that protects and serves as a natural barrier against excess moisture. Our organic baby balm formula can be used for soothing dry skin and does not damage or stain cloth diapers allowing your cloth diapers to be fully absorbent. It also works great for Moms too!” – Reese and Luke {reeseandluke.com}

All pure ingredients, no parebens, no dyes, no animal testing, etc. ! It seriously can NOT get better!

Now, its marketed for the baby bum, and their dry skin, but I have been using it for EVERYTHING!

I have used it on……

Diaper rash

Baby’s rug burned knees

Scrapes and scratches (I’m not kidding, the next day it was gone)

Dry skin

Chapped lips/ cheeks

Cracked nose

Unmanagable curly hair (DH is Greek and our kids have WILD hair 100% of the time)

Did you see that little blip about “works great for moms too”? – My eczema is pretty much gone, no cracked hands from washing them a million times a day, tames my fly aways, and is a fabulous lip balm!

“Our formulas work for all skin types and on everything “from bum to thumb” and for those in hot areas (we’re all super jealous!), our balms work perfectly as an after sun “- Reese and Luke on Facebook.

The smell is divine!

It lasts forever! We have had our 3.5fl oz jar for about a month now, I have barely made a dent, and I use it daily for everything! That being said, it is priced fabulously! A 3.5 fl oz. jar will cost you around $20. I am hoping that my local boutique starts stocking it, so I don’t have to order from Amazon or other boutiques. Check your area out first though, your local cloth diaper shop might have it!

The ONLY negative thing I have to say is that its slightly oily. SLIGHTLY! It doesn’t bother me one bit, but it does leave you a little sticky and shiny until it soaks in.

I am so excited to try more of their products!

Reese and Luke is a MUST for your baby registry, and your home even if you don’t have babies!

I keep seeing all of these random Facebook posts telling me I need a teal pumpkin this year so I finally got curious enough to do some research. Turns out, the motivation behind the Teal Pumpkin Project is pretty awesome and will help many of our BurritoBuzz families with LOs that struggle with food allergies.

We have been so fortunate to have only experienced mild food sensitivies with our LO thus far. So naturally the fear that my child will be receiving treats during Halloween that could trigger an allergy simply hadn’t crossed my mind. But I’ve come to find that so many of our friends and family have had to experience the heartbreaking moment of taking your child’s Halloween bag and removing half of the treats that could be potentially harmful to them.

The Teal Pumpkin Project is on a mission to get as many homes as possible to offer non-food treats this Halloween. Leaving a teal colored pumpkin on your porch lets other parents know, hey we’ve got treats here that won’t harm your kid. It’s quickly becoming a symbol of relief for parents that live with the constant fear of “what if she accidentally eats something with nuts (or gluten, or dairy….)?!”

So what is a safe treat? The Teal Pumpkin Project recommends staying away from candy or food completely and offering a fun alternative (like our kids need one more piece of candy this holiday anyways) Here are some ideas that would be super easy to find:

Crayons

Notepads

Pencils

Toothbrushes

Stickers

Bracelets

Fake tattoos

Bouncy balls

Silly putty

Bubbles

Any of these would be inexpensive to pick up in bulk and a great alternative that kids would still be excited to get while out trick-or-treating.

I love any initiative that keeps kids safe and lessens the sugar-high insanity that becomes my early November. You’ll be seeing a teal pumpkin on my porch this Halloween!

The only words I need to see are “wheat flour” and “may contain peanuts” and the product gets put right back….depending on the child I’m buying for.

You might read labels to check how many calories you’re eating. I read labels so I don’t kill my children. I’m sure caloric intake would be far less frowned upon.

K has a severe peanut allergy. It’s manageable because it is often very clear what has peanuts and what doesn’t. I never leave the house without her epi-pen and she too knows to read labels.

C’s allergies started out in infancy when he had an adverse reaction to dairy…the red dye 40, gluten, tomato and corn allergies didn’t hesitate to follow… I knew nothing about food allergies and was so upset that my little baby would never be able to eat some of the best foods around! I began making a lot of his food and purchasing anything that had the words “gluten free” and “dairy free” plastered on the front of the package. Of all of his allergies, his gluten intolerance was by far the worst. The littlest trace of gluten would disrupt his digestive system in such devastating ways. He would get so sick he would become dehydrated and refuse to eat or drink anything. He cried in pain. I could tell in my LO’s eyes that he didn’t care about the food, he wanted the pain to go away. When he started to get a little older, and we frequented restaurants more and more I began to wonder what people with a gluten allergy eat at restaurants! Everything seemed to have some sort of sauce, bread, seasoning or dressing on it and even the simple request of “on the side” became a daunting task because it was often messed up. It was frustrating.

So I compiled a list of resturants who off Gluten Free menus. You will have to ask for it (if they don’t have it already listed) and you will get weird looks but it works. You and your LO can go out to eat like a normal family and eat (semi) normal food.